O’Brien wants court to rule on TDs’ privilege

Denis O’Brien argues that comments made by two TDs undermined an injunction he had sought against RTELEAH FARRELL/ROLLINGNEWS

Denis O’Brien’s legal action against the state aims to affect what is said in the Dail in future, his lawyer has told the High Court.

Michael Cush, SC, for Mr O’Brien, said that the billionaire businessman was hoping to win a number of declarations from the court, including that Catherine Murphy, the Social Democrat TD, and Pearse Doherty, the Sinn Fein TD, undermined an injunction he was seeking against RTE.

Further declarations are sought that the TDs’ actions breached Mr O’Brien’s constitutional rights and that the Dail committee on procedures and privileges made an error when it cleared them of any wrongdoing.

Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh asked Mr Cush whether the declarations were intended to affect what deputies might do in the house in…